Poverty, Climate Change & Affirmative Action

Mentor of the Webinar

Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty

CEO, Fiinovation

About Fiinovation

A CSR based research organization working in areas of education,

livelihood, environment and health since last seven years

Assists businesses to support requirements of communities by

designing and implementation of sustainable projects

Through practices such as CSR-CSO Partnership, Initiative Design,

Initiative Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Impact
Assessment; Fiinovation supports corporations for implementation
of CSR and Sustainability initiatives

Agenda of the Webinar

Providing insights on climate change, poverty and affirmative

action

Understanding the alignment between poverty and climate

change

Highlighting the role of affirmative action to address concerns of

the marginalized

Exploring options of engagement for the private sector

Information on CSR and sustainability initiatives

Government plans to counter climate change

Way forward

Climate Change

Long-term shift in weather patterns in a specific region or at global

level.
Nowadays, climate change can be observed in the form of global
warming.
Global warming is the sudden rise in atmospheric temperatures due
to increased emissions of greenhouse gases which are generated
through
unsustainable human activities.
Melting of glaciers
The
consequences
Rise in sea-levelsof global warming can be observed in the form of

Flash floods
Increase in intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves,
tornadoes, hurricanes and heavy rainfall
Severe droughts
Endangerment of species
Loss of biodiversity
Decrease in agricultural yields,
Widespread vector-borne diseases
Acidification of oceans
Death of coral reefs.

Climate change adds to the existing burden of the people living below
the poverty line.

Impact of Climate Change Global

Context

The impact of climate change can be observed globally through

melting of glaciers, ocean acidification, unseasonal rains, heat
waves etc

Climate change poses threat to food security across the globe

Increase in the number of cases of health concerns such as

Asthama, Malaria, Dengue, Diarrhea etc

Unbalanced ecosystems and extinction of species

Negative impact on the local economy of a particular region

Impact of Climate Change Indian

Context

Rise in temperatures and heat waves during summer

Major states Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, U.P., Rajasthan,

Gujarat are drought hit

Marginalized sections are being pushed towards extreme poverty

Unseasonal rains leading to loss of crops

Increased scarcity of water, drying up of rivers, barrages, reservoirs,

ground water etc.

Reduction in crop yields, lower productivity and income

Increased risk to human health, especially among women and children

Threat to endangered species, bio-diversity

Climate Change negatively impacts poverty through prices, assets,

productivity and opportunities

Alignment of Climate Change &

Poverty

Climate change aggravates causes of poverty and inequality. Both

can obstruct achievement of sustainable global development.

Climate change has direct and immediate impact on people below

the poverty line. This makes poverty reduction more difficult.

It pulls away resources that allow proper functionality of livelihood,

health, environment, etc.

Ignoring the impacts of climate change leads to a lack of direction

to address the socio-economic and environmental concerns.

Challenges to the Alignment of

Climate Change and Poverty

Shortage of funds

Climate change and poverty policies run parallel and not in

convergence with each other

Not much engagement is observed in broader environmental

issues

Limited discussions and negotiations with all stakeholders

Lack of synergy among relevant thematic working group

Inadequate strategies and planning among government and

corporations to address the climate change and poverty issues

Why We Should Act?

Climate change can push 45 million Indians into poverty in the

next 15 years.

Drop in crop yields lead to rise in cost of food. Globally, rise in food
prices affected 100 million people in 2008 and 44 million people in
2010-11.

Global warming of 2 degrees could increase the number of people

at risk from malaria by 5% and diarrhea by 10%.

Loss of labour productivity by 1-3%.

Increased occurrence and intensity of natural hazards such as

droughts, river flooding and heat waves.

Over the last two decades the sea levels has risen to over 8 inches

Poverty Scenario in India

The World Bank estimates that in the absence of climate change,

189 million Indians will be living below the poverty line (i.e. on less
than $1.9 or INR 127 a day) by 2030. Climate change could push
this number to as high as 234 million.

In 2012, India accounted to have the largest number of people

below the poverty line in any country.

India's poverty rate is one of the lowest among countries with

largest number of people below the poverty line.

Despite the rising inequality and acceleration post 1991 a

downward trend in poverty measures has been observed since
1970.

Majority of the population below the poverty line belong to the

discriminated sections of society.

Population Classification
Absolute
Indicato
r

2001

Percentage
2011

2001

2011

Growth
rate
(200111)

Total Population
Total

1,02,86,10,328

1,21,05,69,573

100.0

100.0

17.7

Rural

74,23,02,537

83,34,63,448

100.0

100.0

12.3

Urban

28,63,07,791

100.0

100.0

31.7

Total

16,66,35,700

16.2

16.6

20.8

Rural

13,30,10,878

17.9

18.5

15.7

Urban

3,36,24,822

11.7

12.6

41.3

Total

8,43,26,240

8.2

8.6

23.7

Rural

7,73,38,597

9,38,19,162

10.4

11.3

21.3

Urban

69,87,643

1,04,61,872

2.4

2.8

49.7

37,71,06,125
Scheduled Castes
20,13,78,086
15,38,50,562
4,75,27,524
Scheduled Tribes
10,42,81,034

Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

Concentration - SCs & STs

Poverty Ratio for Social Groups

In rural areas, STs exhibit highest level of poverty (47.4%), followed

by SCs (42.3%) and OBCs (31.9%), against 33.8% for all classes.

In urban areas, SCs have HCR of 34.1% followed by STs (30.4%) and
OBCs (24.3%) against 20.9% for all classes.

In rural Bihar and Chhattisgarh, nearly two-third of SCs and STs are
poor whereas, in states such as Manipur, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh
the poverty ratio for these groups is more than half.

Source: Press Note on Poverty Estimates, 2009-10 - GOI, Planning Commission, March 2012

Poverty Percentage Among Social

Groups

Poverty Percentage Among Social

Groups
70

Rura
l

65.9
62.4

62.3

60
53.5

51.7

50

50.1

50

40

45.3

41.1

40.6

41.8

39.8

40

35.5

30

27.1

21.7

20

20

25.7

24.1

25.7

22.6

31.8

30.6

30

31.5

16.1

15.4

13.7

15.5

10

10
0

Urba
n

60

SC

0 OBC

'93-94

ST

'04-05

0Others

All Population

'11-12

8.2

SC

0 OBC

'93-94

--- Data not available in the official estimates for 1993-94

Source: Planning Commission

ST

'04-05

0Others

All Population

'11-12

Percentage to Total Population

2011
State/
Union Territory
Top 5
Punjab
Himachal Pradesh
West Bengal
Uttar Pradesh
Haryana
Lakshadweep
Mizoram
Nagaland
Meghalaya
Arunachal Pradesh

State/
Percentage
Union Territory
Bottom 5
Scheduled Castes
31.9
Mizoram
0.1
25.2
Meghalaya
0.6
23.5
Goa
1.7
20.7
D & N Haveli
1.8
20.2
Daman & Diu
2.5
Scheduled Tribes
94.8
Uttar Pradesh
0.6
94.4
Tamil Nadu
1.1
86.5
Bihar
1.3
86.1
Kerala
1.5
68.8
Uttarakhand
2.9

Percentage

Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011
Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

Percentage to Total Population 2011

(Major States)
State/
Union Territory
Top 5
Punjab
West Bengal
Uttar Pradesh
Haryana
Tamil Nadu
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Odisha
Madhya Pradesh
Gujarat

State/
Percentage
Union Territory
Bottom 5
Scheduled Castes
31.9
Gujarat
6.7
23.5
Assam
7.2
20.7
Jammu & Kashmir
7.4
20.2
Kerala
9.1
20.0
Maharashtra
11.8
Scheduled Tribes
30.6
Uttar Pradesh
0.6
26.2
Tamil Nadu
1.1
22.8
Bihar
1.3
21.1
Kerala
1.5
14.8
Uttarakhand
2.9

Percentage

Source: Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes, 2011

Why Affirmative Action?

Reverse discrimination

Positive action for historically discriminated sections

Address poverty and climate change issues

Promote inclusive and holistic development by reducing rising

disparity

Directly benefit those who are most vulnerable

It can be utilized as a tool to fight poverty and global warming by

focusing on methods of environment conservation and risk
mitigation of climate change

It was noted that majority of the farmers committing suicides in

drought-hit Maharashtra belong to SC community

How can AA address Climate Change

& Poverty?

Climate Change Policies of

Government of India

The National Action Plan on Climate Change identifies measures

that promote development objectives

Focusing on promotion of understanding of climate change,

adaption and mitigation, energy efficiency and natural resource
conservation. This includes eight national missions, namely

National
National
National
National
National
National
National
National

Solar Mission
Mission on Sustainable Habitat
Water Mission
Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
Mission for Green India
Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

Contd...
Targets

Responsible Entity

Allocation of funds
for 12th plan (in
billion)

20,000 MW of solar
power by 2020

Ministry of new &

renewable energy

INR 87.95

National Mission for

Enhanced Energy
Efficiency

10,000 MW of EE
savings by 2020

Ministry of power

INR 1.90

National Mission For

Sustainable Habitat

EE in residential and
commercial buildings,
public transport, solid
waste management

Ministry of urban
development

INR 9.50

Mission
Mission focused on
mitigation
National Solar Mission

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

Contd...
Targets

Responsible Entity

Allocation of funds for

12th plan (in billion)

National Water
Mission

Water conservation,
river basin
management

Ministry of Water
resources

INR 891

National Mission for

Sustaining
Himalayan
Ecosystem

Conservation and
adaptation practices,
glacial monitoring

Ministry of Science
and Technology

INR 16.95

National Mission for

a Green India

6 million hectares of
afforestation over
degraded forest
lands

Ministry of
Environment &
Forests

INR 460

National Mission for

Sustainable
Agriculture

Drought proofing,
risk management,
agriculture research

Ministry of
Agriculture

INR 1080

Mission focused on
Adaptation

Vulnerability
assessment,
Ministry of Science
research and
and Technology
observation, data
management
Source: Ministry
of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GOI

National Mission on
Strategic Knowledge
for Climate Change

INR 9.5

Contd...

India announced its National Action Plan on Climate Change on June

30, 2008. While launching the Plan, former Prime Minister, Dr.
Manmohan Singh had said:
"Our people have a right to economic and social development and
to discard the ignominy of widespread poverty. For this we need
rapid economic growth. But I also believe that ecologically
sustainable development need not be in contradiction to
achieving our growth objectives.

India with its Energy Conservation Act has identified nine energy
intensive sectors, namely, Iron & Steel, Cement, Power, Paper and
Pulp, Chlor-Alkalis, Aluminium, Textiles and Railways. Government and
Industry are working together to work towards raising efficiency levels
significantly.

The Government is implementing an Economy Lamp Project by

making available CFLs to households, where penetration is still low, at
30 US cents as against the market price of US $2. The price
differential is sought to be recovered through the sale of carbon
credits. It is likely to touch the 100 million bulbs mark by the end of

2015 - Landmark Year for India in

Climate Change Initiatives

Adoption of
negotiations.

the

climate

change

agreement

in

Paris

after

Launched International Solar Alliance for mutual cooperation among

121 countries.

India announced its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions

i.e. reducing its emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030.

Target of achieving 40% energy generation from renewable energy.

National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change with budgetary

provision of INR 350 crore and National Clean Energy Fund which is
supported by cess on coal.

Climate Change Initiatives By

Industry

Tata group incorporated climate change in the Tata Code of Conduct

by focusing on low carbon footprint, sustainability projects, etc. Tata
Power has invested INR 240 crore in solar power installations while
TCS spent INR 35.97 crore in incorporating green building concepts.

Companies like Nestle, Philips, Unilever and Infosys have committed

to use 100% renewable energy for all their operations.

Yes Bank is the first bank to issue green bonds which would be
exclusively used to finance climate-friendly business initiatives.

Major Indian auto makers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti
Suzuki have come together to invest in and develop components and
systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Franchise India in collaboration with Singapore based investment

company, SingEx held a 'Clean & Green India' conclave to chalk out
avenues to manage Indian waste.

Contd...

Tata group has acquired Welspun India and will be working towards
enhancing their capacities through renewables.

Over 100 Indian companies including DMRC, ITC Limited, Mahindra

and Mahindra and Tata Group launched a Corporate Vision on
Climate Change that includes the best sustainable practices at the
Paris COP 21 Climate Summit.

Leading Indian companies are focusing on implementation of

initiatives/operations based on renewable energy generation, energy
efficiency improvements (like waste heat recovery in steel plants),
resource conservation (water recycling and use) and waste
minimization.

Ambuja Cement, Tata Power and Wipro are increasingly deploying

renewables.

In 2009, PepsiCo India announced 15 global goals and commitments

to guide our work to protect the Earth's natural resources through

What Can Be Done?

Climate change provides a safety net for the people below the
poverty line while ensuring a conducive environment

Holistic plan to target climate change and poverty through

affirmative action and CSR. Corporations can fund green initiatives
targeting SC/ST communities.

Focus not only on people below poverty line but also on the one
who are vulnerable to fall into the category.

Develop solutions to become a low carbon economy without

undermining rapid development of the discriminated sections.

Create awareness and share information of processes and systems

that address the problems of the local communities.

Contd...

Create wealth from waste, replenish water, responsible use of

natural resources, green innovations, etc.

Promote sustainable agriculture among farmers and integrate

policies on human health, agriculture and environment to ensure
they complement each other.

Investments in research for climate friendly solutions which will help

the industry thereby creating jobs for the discriminated sections that
will help address both poverty and climate change

The Way Forward

Ensuring lower per capita emissions in comparison with other developed and
developing countries.

Primary focus on adaptation with specific niches for mitigation

Collaborative research in future low-carbon technologies

Facilitating forestry, drought proofing, crop improvement, crop insurance etc

All the policies related to climate change must be communicated to the people
living below the poverty line for them to take advantage

Climate-informed development needs to be complemented with targeted

adaptation interventions and a more robust safety net system for the poor

Develop models to understand and determine the number of people being pushed
in poverty due to climate change

Emphasis on continuous technological improvements through up gradation of

their systems and processes, regular monitoring of various performance
parameters as well as capacity building of the local communities

How Can Corporations Help?

Incorporate sustainability initiatives within the business operations

Promote low-carbon practices down the supply chain

Direct CSR funds through discriminated sections towards green

initiatives such as Climate Smart Agriculture, Solar powered irrigation
projects, water conservation etc

Partner with government for

environment-friendly initiatives

Create employment opportunities and provide social safety nets for the
discriminated sections of society

Develop products and services with social benefits involving green

technologies

Conduct research, provide financial support to develop green and

advanced technologies

Help India earn more carbon credits

planning

and

implementation

of

The Way Forward

Contributors to
the PPT
Soumitro Chakraborty
CEO, Fiinovation

Rahul Choudhury
Dy. Manager, Fiinovation

Rohit Srivastava
Graphics Designer,
Fiinovation